Empty seats continue to plague the Bucs

Although the Buccaneers have promised that none of this year’s home games will be blacked out on local television, they’re a long way from filling their stadium.

For Thursday night’s loss to the Panthers, the Buccaners listed their paid attendance as 59,073, according to the Tampa Bay Times. But the Tampa Sports Authority said only 47,751 people actually went through the turnstiles.

The NFL Record and Fact Book lists the capacity of Raymond James Stadium as 65,908, so there were more than 18,000 empty seats at the stadium on Thursday night.

And, of course, the fans who are in the stands are not enjoying themselves, unless they’re masochists. The Bucs are 0-7, and the fans in attendance are increasingly calling for coach Greg Schiano’s head.

The Glazer family that owns the team doesn’t have to listen to the fans who want Schiano fired. But the Glazers surely will listen to the fans who aren’t buying tickets at all. No NFL owner wants to leave potential ticket revenue on the table, and for Schiano’s job security, playing in front of empty seats may be worse than playing in front of fans who want him to be fired.

As a Skins fan, I used to complain about Dan Snyder. But compared to the Glazers, I’d rather have Snyder, his evil twin and and some crazy Snyder uncle owning my favorite team than the Glazer brothers. They seem like they are cheap and just don’t care.

Well, if you have followed our Yucs at all this year, what did you expect? Sellouts? Not even the mighty Green Bay and their fans (that clearly invented the game) would manage a sellout under these conditions. Before the start of training camp, they were selling season tickets at a (team) record pace.

Empty seats plague the Bucs due to a terrible coach, horrible management, and an owner who doesn’t care about the product on the field. The Glazers make money off of profit sharing in the NFL, as well as Manchester United. I feel bad for Bucs fans, they could have a good product but the front office/owner are complete jokes.

Even the bucs won a Super Bowl!!
Sorry Vikes fans
Until you can say that just keep quiet!

ravensrooster94 says:Oct 26, 2013 2:28 PM

I think this hints at a deeper problem and that’s the issue of fan attendance, in general, at all professional sports events in the state of Florida.

No professional football team based in Florida draws well. A few weeks ago when the Ravens played the Dolphins, the stadium was at least 30% purple with plenty of empty seats in the upper deck. Jacksonville blocked off upper deck seats years ago. Tampa Bay’s attendance problems are well documented.

In baseball, one of the best teams in MLB, the Rays, plays routinely in front of 10,000. The Marlins built a new stadium with taxpayer money that no one attends.

And can someone tell me why there are 2 (TWO) ice hockey teams in Florida??

I think the fact that Florida is a destination state full of destination cities and expatriates from other parts of the country makes it impossible to build a large, loyal fan base.

cavredleg15 says:Oct 26, 2013 2:39 PM

47,751 at Raymond James Stadium and another 18,820 at the TBT Forum for the Lightning game. Considering how many people that choose to live in this area and still hold onto the teams of cities they chose to leave I’m ok with the fan turn out. Everyone likes to laugh and point at the Tampa Bay area yet so many people keep moving here.

Wow I’ve been watching football a long time and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team implode so quickly and completely before. From a dangerous up-and-coming young team on the verge of SB contention, to 0-7 and a complete trainwreck at every aspect on the field in just a year or so. Pretty amazing.

peehergriphon says:Oct 26, 2013 2:58 PM

Wondet what Revis and Goldson are thinking after going for $$.

TheWizard says:Oct 26, 2013 3:11 PM

How is everyone so sure the coach has lost the team, other than to parrot what the media is inferring?

Then the fans should bond together and agree to all not show up. And to chip in to pay off the visitor fans as much as it takes to get them to walk. See if it gets the Glazers’ attention when the game is played in front of a crowd of 0. I wonder if they would listen then.

colv says:Oct 26, 2013 4:03 PM

I watched Miami play last Sunday at home. I was amazed at the empty seats all around the stadium. It wasn’t blacked out because I live in Vero Beach which is north of Miami and watched on West Palm Beach station. When they played the Ravens at home a couple weeks ago at times I thought they were in Baltimore. Lots of purple.

6ball says:Oct 26, 2013 4:09 PM

.

You can’t win in the NFL without steady QB play.

The Bucs have had instability at the QB position with Josh Freeman followed by the inconsistency of young Mike Glennon.

What would their record be if they had a Manning, Brady, or Brees under center?

.

gotjuice813 says:Oct 26, 2013 4:10 PM

I was at game, set 2 rows up next to the tunnel that they come out of, heard all the chants etc. You cant and crack on the attendance. The lower bowl was pretty packed for a school night for and 0-6 team. A lot better crowd than what i just sat through for the USF game with it being homecoming and against the best team in the AAC in Louisville and hopefully future Bucs Qb Bridgewater. Factor in Thursday night the Lightning played the defending Stanley Cup champs, a team that doesnt come to Tampa often enough, and the Luke Bryan/Florida Georgia Line at the fairgrounds, a concert that sold out in less than minute and ended up them having another concert. That alone packed the fairgrounds. so 47k is very respectable for a team with no wins, a coach calling to be fired, a hockey game 10 mins away against the blackhawks and one of the biggest acts in country music.

Logicalvoice… Say what you will but the Bucs have hoisted a Lombardi much more recently than the (currently named) Redskins. Aside from last year’s appearance the Skins havent exactly made much noise over the past decade or so.

Alot of talk the week before the Skins play @ Denver when NOBODY but you even gives them a chance in that one… 2-5 would be quite a hole to climb out of.